Automatic phonograph recordchanger



p 1947- H. v. ALEXANDERS SON ET AL 2,428,258

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH RECORD-CHANGER Filed Ja n. 8, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Sept-30,1941 H. V.-AI.EXANDERSSON ETAL 4 2,428,258

AUTOMATI C EI IONOGRAPH RECORD- CHANGER Filed Jan. 8, 1943 s Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Se t. 30, 1947. "H. v. AI EXANDERSSON ETA L 2 AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH RECORD-CHANGER Filed Jan. 8, 1943 s Sheets-Sheet s INVEN-TORS 4M W TQRN Patented Sept. 30, 1947 *FFiQ-E AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH REGORD- CHANGER Harald "Valdemar Alexandersson and Nils Uno 'Hagren, Lidingo, Sweden, assignors to Svenska Aktiebolaget Gasaccumulator, Lidingo, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Application January 8,1943, Serial No. 471,713 In Sweden March 20, 1942 13 Claims. 1

Our invention relates to automatic recordchangers for phonographs.

In automatic record-changers'for phonographs there has been employed means for changing records with the least possible delay. Also, attempts have been made to control the changing manually so that, if desired, a longer'interval between records may be obtained, a record may be replayed, or the playing of arecord may be interrupted.

The present invention refers to an improved arrangement in record-changers, by means of which it is possible to control the time elapsing between the end of a first record and the beginning of a second record, and by which it is also possible to cause a rapid record-changing every second time, alternating with a record-changing consuming a longer interval.

In automatic record-changers for phonographs there are as a rule three difie'ren't phases of the operation of the record changers, the first phase of which is started by the needle entering the final groove of the record, which has a pitch greater than that of the sound-reproducing groove. During this phase the ick-up arm is elevated from the record, and is swung out beyond the record. During the phase following thereafter a new record is fed down from the supply pile on to the record 'on the turntable which has just been played, and during the last phase the pick-up arm is again brought in over the record and lowered in such a way that the needle engages the initial groove of the record just fed down.

When it is desired to'prolong the'record-changing perid,it is specially suitable to delay the beginningof the third phase for a predetermined, preferably controllable time. Even though the invention is hereinafter described in connection with two difierent embodiments, in which arresting of the record changing takes place at the beginning of the third phase, it is obvious that the invention is not limited thereto, but that it may also be used in connection With means initiating the first or the second phase.

The invention will be further described in connection with the annexed drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of oneembodiment of my invention taken through the'center of the turntable and a portion of the record changing mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the device shown inFig. 1, but with the turntable removed;

Fig; 2a is a view of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 2, but in the positions which they occupy rotated one-half revoluwhen the cam disc has tion;

Fig. 3 is a top view on an enlarged scale era portion of the device shown in Fig. 2';

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig.3, 'but'showin'ga modification of the mechanism illustratedi'nth'e preceding figure;

Figure 5 is a top view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4, but with certain parts in difierent'po'sitions;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 7 is a top view of'a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the apparatus shcwn'in Fig. 7; and

Figs. 9 and 10 show details of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.

The turntable in Fig. 1 is designated byreference character Hi. It is 'fiXedto the shaft H of the driving motor, said shaft further being provided with a prolongation! 2 for carrying 'the-pil'e of records not yet played. In'thisposition the records rest upon a shoulder I3 on the s'haitas well as on a record pusher table Ifia, sliown at the left in Fig. 1. The free upper end of the shaft is engaged by a member M hinged at Ma. A record pusher i5 is movable in a slot fonne'd'in the table. The movement of the record pusher is caused by means of an angular part It, "an arm ll pivotally mounted at li and a connecting rod i8 pivotally connected at 18a to arm H and cooperating with said part Vi. During the chang ing of a record the connecting rod I8 is moved by means of a cam disc I9, shown in Fig. 2. "For this purpose the connecting rod i8 extends through an orifice in the chassis plateand is pivotally connected'to an arm 23, which carries a cam follower 2i, cooperating with a cam groove 22 in the cam disc I 9.

The same groove also cooperates'with a further cam follower '23 at the end of an'arm 2d, the function of which is to cause the pick-up arm to be elevated and lowered before and after the record-changing, respectively. A further groove may bearrangedfor instance on the lower side of the cam disc [9 for swinging the pick-up arm in and out over the record. As the specific means for accomplishing this form nopart of the'present invention a more detailed description thereof is not given.

The purpose of the'cam disc 19 thus is to drive the means which cause the pick-up arm to be elevated and swung out, the new record to be fed down and the pick-up arm thereupon to be swung in and lowered on to the new record. The impulse-giving means, which cause the beginning of each of the three above mentioned phases therefore are arranged to influence the cam disc IS in such a way that it is put into rotation in the direction indicated by the arrow 25. This, for instance, may be caused by the inclined edge 21 of an arm 28 striking a pin 26 on the disc. Arm 28 is pivotally mounted at 23a on the chassis plate. The motive force for the continuous movement of the cam disc is thereafter obtained from the same motor which drives the turntable, a. roller 29 being arranged on the shaft 1 i for driving the record disc, said roller .cooperating with the periphery of the cam disc [9. In order to enable the cam disc to remain stationary during the playing of a record there is arranged a recess 38 in the periphery f the cam disc, which is just large enough so that the roller 29 may freely rotate within it. A similar recess 3| is arranged in the periphery of the cam disc, which may suitably be positioned diametrically opposite to the first mentioned recess. The purpose of this recess is to cause the cam disc to remain stationary during a shorter or longer interval of time during the changing of records, preferably while the pick-up arm is swung out. The same recess is free from the ,roller 29 when the phonograph has been stopped.

When it is not desired to stop the motor, or when some interval of time is not to take place during the changing of records, the cam disc should be driven over the dead point arising when the roller 29 enters the recess 3|. For-this purpose there is arranged a bellcrank 32 having arms 32a and 32b, biased by a spring 60, said bellcrank being turnable about the point 33. Arm 32b is provided with an inclined surface 34, the purpose of which is to give the cam disc in cooperation with the pin 26 the impulse required for carrying it over the said dead point.

j The arrangement so far described functions in the following manner: It is assumed that a record has just been fully reproduced. The pick-up needle will then enter the final groove of the record which has a greater pitch, and the more "rapid turning movement of the pick-up arm 35 caused thereby, causes in some manner, which forms no part of this invention, the arm 28 to be turned in counter-clockwise direction. The inclined edge 21 thereby strikes the pin 26, which causes the Cam disc to be turned slightly in the direction of the arrow 25. This small turning movement, however, is suflicient to cause the roller'29 to ride up on the periphery of the cam disc [9, which will thereby due to friction between the roller and the periphery continue the movement just started. During the first part of this movement the pick-up arm is elevated from the record disc and swung out, whereafter the record pusher i5 is moved backwards, so that it will contact the lowest of the records placed in the pile. Possibly the record pusher may thereafter also be moved forwards, so that the record thus caught is pushed down into playing position on the turntable Ill. 7

At this moment, as is shown in Fig. 2a, the recess 3| has just come opposite the roller 23, and the cam disc therefore would have a tendency to stop, if the pin 26 had notcontacted the arm 32b and turned this arm in clockwise direction. The pin '26, at this moment, has just passed the angle of the arm and is thus in contact with the inclined surface 34 of the arm 32?). If there is obstruction to the swinging back of the arm 32b capement mechanism 48.

under influence of the spring '60, the inclined surface 34 will act in the same manner as the inclined surface 21, so that the cam disc will obtain an impulse for continuous movement, the pickup arm during this movement again being carried in over the initial groove of the new record and lowered into said groove, the reproduction thereafter taking place. The cam disc will thereafter again be in the position shown in Fig. 2.

However, the arm 32a of the bellcrank has pivotally mounted thereon at 3611 a disc 33, which is loaded by a spiral spring 3'! connected at its inner end to the disc and having its outer end anchored to the chassis at 31a, which spring tends to turn the disc in counter-clockwise direction. The last named turning movement is limited by a pin 38 on the disc and a stop 39 mounted on the chassis. Further, the disc 33 is provided with at least one substantially radial groove 44, the function of which shall be further described in connection with the remaining figures of the drawings. Finally, the disc is provided with teeth 351) along its periphery, cooperating with an es- This is arranged at one end of an arm ll, which is pivoted at the point 42 on the end of the arm 32?). The other end of the arm 4| extends to the vicinity of the roller 29, which is provided with a projection 53 for cooperation with the arm 4| during certain circumstances, described below.

The escapement 40 consists of an angular arm 62, provided with a hook 6|, said arm being pivoted at the point 63 of the arm 6|. Between the arms 62 andSZa there is arranged a spring 64 for two purposes, namely partly in order to keep the hook iii in engagement with the teeth of the disc 36, and partly'in order to provide a, pulling force on the arm M for turning in clockwise direction.

The disc 36 may be made as shown in Fig, 3. In this arrangement there is only one radial groove M present. This groove cooperates with a pin 45, connected to the chassis plate and extending upwardly therefrom. This arrangement functions in the following way: When the pin 25 is first brought into contact with the arm 32, the pick-up arm is elevated and swung out from the turntable. It is immaterial whether the recordchanging has already taken place, or if this will take place a moment later. Upon the continuous rotation of the cam disc, however, the bellcrank 32, due to'the cooperation of the arm 3212 with the pin 26, willh'e turned in clockwise direction, which causes the disc 36, mounted on the end of the arm 32a to be displaced upwardly, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3. This causes the slot it to be moved out of engagement with the pin 45. The spring 37 then immediately will drive the disc 35 in counter-clockwise direction until the projection 38 contacts the stop 39. The angular position of this stop is adjustable by means of an arm, which is turnable about a centre, coinciding with the centre of the disc 36 in this just mentioned position, swung upwards.

After the pin 26 has passed the bend of the arm 321), the disc 38 Will be brought back a negligible distance, but not to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The pin 45 now will engage the teeth 3% on the periphery of the disc 36 and thus prevent the disc from moving all the way back into its position of rest, shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Consequently, also the arm 3211 will remain in its swung out position, and the impulse for continuous rotation of the cam disc, which otherwise is caused by the inclined surface 34 pressing the pin 28, will be delayed. The cam disc will therefore remain in a position at which only the firsthalf; of the record-changing operations havebeen car.-

ried out- By the swinging. in clockwise direction of the arm 4|, its: end; which is positioned .in the vi-. cinity of the shaft II has been. turned into the path traversed by the-projection 431a during the rotation of'the shaft. This projection therefore. will cause a displacement-of the armforeach revolution,- which causes the escapement mecha=. nism to move the disc 3.6 step by-step inwclocka. wise direction. simultaneouslythe pin file-passes: over one tooth 3612* of the disc 36and in this way. prevents the disc from moving. back at the next? contact between the projection-4'3 and thearm.

4!: During this. movement, therefore, the slot;-

44 gradually moves to the positionin which it may beentered bythe pin.l.5. The time required tocarry the groove 44; into this. position, Ofi' course will be dependentsupon the position of the stop 39. When the groove 4.4 has come opposite.

to the pin 45, the disc moves back. into its posi:-.

tion of:' rest, the inclined surface 34 simultaneously giving the pin 26 an impulse for continuousmovement of the cam. disc, andthe arm 41 is brought beyond the path of:travel of'the projection as. The recordechanging therefore continues, and the new'record. will beginto be reproduced;

By. the above described arrangement. a con-. trollable time will lapse during each change of:

record. Suitably. the arrangement is. made in sucha manner, that-this time is controllable fromL ay'minimumof, only a few seconds, required for. a continuousrotationof the camdisc, to about one minute.

As mentioned above, it is desirable to control the. record-changing in such a way thatrfirstly a. predetermined number of, records, for instance:

bellcrank 32 are'omitted. Each of the figures shows'the disc 36 in two different positions, one

indicated-by a full line, and the other by abrokenline.

The disc 36, in the arrangement according to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, is providedwith two radial slots 46 and 41, corresponding to the slot M in the ar-.

rangement according to Fig. 3, but there is only." asingle pin 45. The disc 3t carries two further;

pins 48 and 49, of which the pin 48 extends in. one direction, for instance downwardly in Fig. 6, whereasthe pin 49 extends. upwardly. For co-. operation with the pin 48 there is. present a leaf spring 50; which is fixed to the chassis, as evident from Fig. 6. This spring is.arranged to be set to different degrees, depending upon the different act-ions, Firstlyv the arm 5| will slide over-the spring 59; so-thatthisis all0wed;to bend;

closer tothe disc 36, see Fig.- 6', Secondly the a part 52 of the arm-will-beturnedinover the position of an arm- 5| of an L-shaped member 5I52, which is-turnable about apivot point 53..

The arrangement functions in the following way: The initial position during reproduction is" that indicated by the full line in Fig. 4, After the record has been reproduced, and consequent- 1y movement ofthe cam disc l9 has been initi-.

ated, the pin 2.6, inthe manner previously de-.

scribed, causes a turning.-0f:the:.be1lGI19J k,E32; ni: clockwise direction. This turning causesthedisc;

36-to-be displaced from-the position indicated by-thefull'line-into a position indicated by. a

broken line. Herebythepin 4511s. freed from the slot lfiiand inatmanner, which is also described above, the disc 36 Willrapidly rotate under influence of aspring tl, until the projection 38 contacts the stop-'39. This rotation takes place incounter-clockwise direction,

For the function of the arrangement it of importance to remember, that this rapid rotation under influenceof thespring 31 takes place at the moment when the -pin 26 'passesthe bendof'the arm 32?), the disc 36' therefore being in its outmost position, that is the position'most" remotefrom the normal position.

The stop 39 in Figsp land 5 has been shown in. one of its extreme, positions of adjustment, thatpis, turned as far as possible in clockwise direction, If the. stophad been adjustedto aposition other than its extreme position, the arrangement would havefunctioned exactly. in the same manner as the arrangement according to Fig.3, andthe elements additionally. present. in

the. arrangement,accordingtoFigs, 4, 5 and 6,

would have .no function. However, the ,extreme position ofthe stop 3.9.,is chosen in such away that. when, the disc. is in. this position the slot 41, is. right.bef0re the pin.45,. and consequently there is nothing to -.pr.event,.the bellcrank 32 from swinging back into. the normal position shown in.

Fig. 2. The inclined. surface. 34. therefore will strike the pin 25, which causesthecam disc l9 to continue itsmovement without an appreciable pause, Thus the disc 3t is;carried.into its temporary position ofrest; which is shown in Fig, 5

with fulllines; During. the backwards movement of the-- disc, however, the Din-4S will Contact the edge of. the arm 5i on the L,-shaped member.

5l 52, this. part therefor. turning in clockwisedirection. about the pivot 53; This causes. two

disc, so that-1it isplaced in theway-ofthe pin 49, when thediso is again rotated.

When the springfiil -is allowedtoapproach the disc 36; howeven-it comes to restupon the top; of the pinAB; this movement therefore not being completed.

After thedisc- 3 6. has-.moved to its position of rest'now described whichis shown in full" lines iii-Fig. 5, the camdisc, l9 will-continue its rota, tion, and'anew, record-will bereproduced. After this-record; has;beenr-;1 eproduced, however, anew function of; the cam disc- I9 =wi1lbe initiated, and the-pinfiiwill therefore againstrike the arm 32!).

The disc 36 then is; brought-- out from the; position, shown; infull-linesinFig.;5' and into a position which; is-shown with broken lines in the same figure. Hereby. the end of pin ttislideson.

the spring. 50511111711 it .is clear. of thespring, whereuponthe latter will contact the underside of: the

disc 36', asshQwn-inFig. 6 with a broken line, and by cooperation between the. pin flit-and the spring 5B the disc is prevented from again moving back intothefull line position. Therefore, the inclined edge 34 does not contact the pinZE. Instead the arm Lil will be struck by the pin 43, so that theescapement:mechanismwillbegin to work. The

disc 361 then is turned-back. into the bro-ken line. position. shown. in. Fig. 4. andithereafter. it will 7. again be returned slowly to its initial position shown with full lines.

Already after the first step, however, the pin 48 will slide down the edge of the spring 56, and the disc 36 will then move a small distance backwards in the direction towards the position which is shown in Fig. in full lines. Consequently, the pin 45 engages behind one of the teeth 36b of the disc 36 and holds this disc against backwards movement, as the hook 6I is moving to engage the next tooth. I

After the disc has been turned about 30, the pin 49 will contact the edge of the arm part 52 of the L-shaped member. -The pin 49 then will move the L-shaped member into the position indicated in Fig. 4.

After the disc 36 has been turned so far that the slot 46 coincides with the pin 45, the disc 36 is brought back into its initial position, shown with full lines in Fig. 4, and the bellcrank 32 will be turned so that the inclined surface 34 gives the pin 26 the impulse required for continuous movement of the cam disc.

In the above stated manner no retarding of the record-changing due to the function of the escapement mechanism took place when changing from the first to the second of the above mentioned records but, on the other hand, a delay was efiected when changing from the second to the third record. In this manner two records will always be played in immediate and rapid succession, but after the reproduction of every second record a longer interval occurs.

In the arrangement according to Fig. 7, III} is the chassis plate, on which the parts are mounted. The shaft of the motor is indicated H2 in the figure, and the rubber-coated roller mounted on this shaft is indicated I I 3, said roller cooperating with a cam disc H4. The cam disc is provided with two preferably diametrically disposed recesses only one of which, I I5, is shown in the figure The recesses are arranged in such a way that the roller H3 may rotate freely within them, whereas even a small impulse for rotation of the cam disc II4 causes the roller H3 to ride up on the outer periphery I I6 of the cam disc I I4, so that the latter is rotated by the roller.

It is assumed that the cam disc II4 has obtained an impulse for movement, whereby the roller H3 has moved up on to its periphery, and that the cam disc has been turned through an angle corresponding to the first phase of movement. At the end of this phase of movement the recess II5 approaches the position where the roller H3 is placed, and simultaneously herewith the second phase of the record-changing begins, during which the new record is fed down onto the turntable. At the end of the second phase of the record-changing the roller II3 enters the recess H5 so that the cam disc stops. The continued rotation of the cam disc thereafter is dependent upon an impulse being given for beginning of the third phase of changing. It is assumed that certain means are arranged under the chassis plate I ID for causing this action. These means consist of a pin I I! extending downwardly from the cam disc H4 and a bellcrank I I8 with an inclined surface I I 9. The bellcrank I I8 is turnable about the shaft I20 under influence of a link I2I, which is assumed to indicate in some manner, which is not essential to the invention, that the third phase may begin.

It is evident from the figure that upon turning of the bellcrank I I8 in clockwise direction, the inclined surface will contact the pin II'I, so that 8. the cam disc H4 is driven in the direction of the arrow I22. This causes, as mentioned above, the roller H3 to ride up on to the outer periphery II6 of the cam disc, which latter is driven through a further angle, corresponding to the third phase of the record-changing,

In this form of the invention, however, arrangements are provided for arresting the impulse means IIIII8lI9--I2IlI2I during a time which may be determined within wide limits. For this purpose the lever H8 is by means of a joint I23 connected to a link I24, which is in its turn by means of the joint I25 connected to an arm I26, fixed to the chassis by means of the joint I21. The link I24 at I28 is connected to a second arm I29, which forms the real arresting means. 7

Below the arm I29 there is fixed a downwardly extending angular part I30 having a vertical edge I32. The arm I29 is biased by a spring I33 in clockwise direction about the point I28. This turning, however, is prevented by one of the following two means, namely either a turnable shaft I34, the function of which will be further described hereinafter, or a pin I35, which extends upwardly from a lever I36.

The turnable shaft I34 is carried in a U-shaped part I31, which is turnably connected to the chassis by means of the stud I38. The part I37 is biased by a spring I39 in counter-clockwise direction. This turning, however, is arrested by means of a pin I46. At the end which contacts the arm I29 the shaft I34 is threaded, as evident at HM, and at the other end it carries a worm wheel I42, which may be brought into mesh with a worm I43, fixed on the shaft H2 of the motor. In the position shown in the figure the worm wheel I42 is turned out of mesh with the screw I 43. However, it is evident that a turningin clockwise direction, that is against the action of the' spring I39, will cause the worm wheel I42 to mesh with the worm I43.

The arm I36 carrying the pin I35 is mounted for universal movement at the point I44, *the mounting arrangement consisting of a plug, turnable in the chassis and formed with a groove. The arm I36 extends through the groove, where it is jointed by means of a horizontal screw I3l, so that the arm can be turned in vertical direction. The free end of the arm I36 is guided by a manually controllable cam I45, which is turnable by means of a knob not shown in the drawing as well as by the shaft I46 into an arbitrary position. The form of the cam is evident from Figs. 9 and 16. It is immediately evident from the drawing, that by turning the cam I45 the arm I36 will also be swung in clockwise direction or counter-clockwise direction in a horizontal plane, whereby the pin I35 will be brought closer to or further away from the edge of the arm I29.

For a purpose, which will be further described below in connection with Fig, 8, the cam I45 is arranged double-acting, so that it does not only cause a swinging of the arm I36 about the turning position of the plug I44 in clockwise or counter-clockwise direction but also a pivoting upwards or downwards about the screw I3I. At the point I4! an angularly bent arm I48 is pivotally mounted so that its free end rests on the .bent part of the arm I36. Consequently, the arm I48 will be elevated or lowered depending upon the position of, the, arm I36 about the screw I3I. In the following it is assumed that the arm I46 is in the highest: position. In this position the arm I29 rests onv the edgev of the arm I48, on

which it may slide. v

In the hitherto described parts the action of thearrangement isthe following:

During the rotatingmovement of the disc I I4, and at the time of transition from the first to the second of theabovementionecl three recordchang-ing Phases, the pin III strikes. the edge I49 of the bellcrank I,I8, whereby this bellcranl: is turned in counter-clockwise. direction against the action of a spring I50, which is connected between the chassis and the arm I24. This moves the arm I24 to the right in the plane of the drawing, and the arm I29 is moved in the same direction. During thefirst part of the movement of the arm I20 in the direction to the right, however, the arm is not pivoted, as the vertical edge of the angularly bent piece I30 engages theedge of the threaded shaft l.4.I. When the arm I29 approaches its extreme right hand position, at the time the pin III rides over the corner of the bellcrank M8, the angularly, bent part I39 will be free from the threadsIAI. The spring I33 then will turn the arm I29 in clockwise direction about the; point I28, until the arm contacts the pin I35. .In this position the arm is arrested.

At the following, backwards movement of the arm I29 under influence of the spring I53 the edge I32 of the angularly bent piece I30 will engage one of the threads on the threaded shaft part MI. Becauseof the pressure from the edge I32 the U-shaped member I3? will thereby be turned about the, point I33 a ainst the action of the spring I39, so that the worm Wheel I42 meshes with the Worm I43. shaft [34 is rotated, and. the edge I32 will be moved downwards in Fig. 7, so that the arm I29 is turned in. countereclcckwise direction against the action ofthe spring I33. After atime, which is dependent upon'thespeed of the shaft I3 and the number and pitch of threads MI, the part I32 will be fed beyond. the last thread Ill! and fall over the outer endof the shaft I35. Thus, movement of thev arm I28 towards the left is no longer arrested, and the bellcrank I I 8 will therefore underinfluenoe of the spring I 50. suddenly be turned intoits. extreme position, in which the edge. II 9 contacts, thepin III, and the cam disc H4 will consequentl be turned in such a way that the recess H5 is moved. to. the left and. the roller II3 rides up on to theouter periphery Me of the. cam disc.

The third phase of the record-changing thus has been started.

From theabove itfis evident, that it ispossible by means of the. cam I45, to manually control the number. of threads, which. thej edge I32 must traverse, and thus to determine the interval before the bellcrank-IIB strikes the pin III to, cause a resumption of the rotation of the disc I I4. Consequently, it, is possible to effectively control the time during which the record-changing actionis arrested, untilthe third phase of the recordchanging action may. begin.

In order that an extension of time shall occu only at each second record-changing, means are provided to cause the arm I29 not to function when no. extension of time shall take place. The arrangements for this purpose. are more clearly evident from Fig. 8., to which it is referred in the following. In Fig. 8 the driving motor III is shown as carried by the supports I5I and I52. The parts not visible due to the driving motor, however,

will :be seen from Fig. 7 with sufficient clearness.

Consequently. the.

10 The remaining parts visible in Fig. 7, have been indicated, in 8. with. the. same. reference indications.

In addition to theparts.abovedescribed in connection withFig. '7, theifollowing parts are shown in. Fig. 8: A control member 15315 formed with a saw toothed cylindrical body. It will be assumed that 'thenumberof, saw teeth along the q indr el-reiir er f r T b d is its ends connectedv with two triangular plates I54 and I5 which. re; di ea d hat h nd ene'plate correspondsv tothe side of the other p te Th n ol. memh ris arr ot umedabeuia bo I5 wh is un n t I53, the latter being rigidly conhectedto the ass sp ete "IL r e ntr membe I r an e in lat o the. ee end at h m ha this endduring the abovedescribed normal actionof m n rran eme t p se ee d t ab Ye thetQ th 5 :IL how ve e em. I45 s rnedha a vpli t qn he ever'. I 45. wil turned about; the horizontal; shaft I3! (see. Fig. 7), so that the right hand end of this lever, as well as the arm I48, are moved into, a lower position. Due tothetension from theincl inedspring Will. contact one tooth; on thecon-trolmember I53,

so that this is turnedonesixth of a revolution.

. During the. step by step turning movement of the control. member I53 the. triangular plate I54 will bein. theposition .shownin. Fig. 8 after alternate steps, whereas after intermediate stepsit will be. inflthe position in which the triangular plate I55 is. shown in Fig. 8.

As previously described the disc II4 is rotated and causes the'elevation of the. pick-up arm, its

. swinging out and the feeding. of a new record. on

- to theleft. The .arm- I29 during the last mentioned movement to the left brings the control member I53. and th triangular plate I54 into the position shown in Fig. -8. Simultaneously the disc [I4 is tarted for causing: the third phase threads 141 of the shaft I34.

of the record-changing to start. When after this new record has been played a new recordchanging begins. First the pick-up arm. is elevated from the record and swung out into its position beyond the turntable. Thereafter the bellcrank III} is turned in counter-clockwise direction, so that the arms I24 and I529 are moved to the right. Under influence or the spring I33 thereafter the arm I20 is swung in such a way that the sharp edge. I32 cooperates with the I v The position of the threads with which the edge I32 cooperates, is determined by the pin I35, which is connected tothearrn I36. Simultaneously the rotation of the Sh ni .is started, so that theangularly bent part I30 is slowly driven towards the end in Fig. 8, so that the corner I59 is swungupwards at an angle, corresponding to a; sixth of a revolution.

By this turning movement of the triangular plate I54, however, the corner I59 will thereafter cooperate with the arm I29. This cooperation takes place in the following manner:

When the record now being reproduced is fully played, a new record-changing operation begins inthe same manner as previously described. In this operation there is also involved the displacement of the arm I29 to the right so that the arm shall be turned in clockwise direction and the sharp edge I32 be brought into cooperation with the thread I4I. The last named movement, however, is prevented inasmuch as the corner I59 of the triangular plate I54 is now in the way of the free end of the arm I29, so that this arm cannot be turned. At the movement of the bellcrank H8 in clockwise direction, caused by the spring I50, therefore the arm I29 will freely and without impediment move to the left, as the part I30 is continuously free of the outer end of the shaft I34. Noextension of time will therefore take place in the moment nowdescribed.

However, the arm I29 engages a tooth on the control member I53, and therefore this member i's turned a further one sixth of a revolution. Thereby it will again come into a position corresponding to the position shownin Fig. 8, although the control member actually has been turned one third of a revolution from the position shown in Fig. 8.

At the next record-changing the arm I29 will again be brought to the right, but now the triangular plate I54 does not prevent the arm I29 from being swung in clockwise direction under influence f the spring I33, and consequently the edge I32 will this time again come into cooperation with the threaded part I4I of the shaft I34.

Thus, in this manner each alternate recordchanging will take place with a. delay and each intermediate record-changing will take place Without any delay, depending'upon the position of the control member I53 and the triangular plate I54, respectively.

However, it may occur, that the record-changer is provided with arrangements which allow some extra function of the record-changer, for

example repeating'of a record. Such arrangements then function in such a way that a control means is operated, for instance a push button during the playing off of the record to be repeated. When the record is fully played as usual a record-changing will begin, but the control means prevents the feeding of a new record and consequently the same record will be played again. 1

In a case of repeating it is, however, obvious, that the listener wants to hear the record again without pause, whereas it may occur that the time extension arrangement'is in such a position that a pause will occur before repetition while the record following thereafter will be played immediately.

"be arranged to be operated by the same push button which causes a record to be repeated.

For this purpose, as shown in Fig. 8 an arm is pivoted at the screw I60, whichis connected to a part ISI projectingfrom the chassis. The free end I62 of the arm I53 is assumed to be connected with some adjusting knob available from the outside, such as the knob-for effecting repetition, and which functions in such a way that by moving the same the arm I33 is turned downwards in Fig. 8 so as to strike a corner of triangular plate I55 and automatically turn the plate one sixth of a revolution into the position shown for plate I54 in Fig. 8, that is the corner I59 is now elevated into the position in which it cooperates with the free end of the arm I29 for preventing cooperation between the edge I32 and the threaded part I4I of the shaft I34.

When now the next record-changing begins, the arm I29 will first be displaced to the right and thereafter again to the left. Due to cooperation between the arm I29 and the corner I59 the last named displacement will not be arrested and no pause will occur; On the other hand the arm turns the control member I53 one sixth of a revolution so that at the subsequent record-changing a pause will again enter.

Now it is obvious that the control body, in the case of the push button being depressed insufiiciently, would be able to take a lot of intermediate positions between its above mentioned two positions of rest, whereby a most dissatisfying operation of the device would result. For preventing the control member from stopping its movement in such intermediate positions the teeth are arranged to cooperate with a plate spring I54, which will always bring the control body in one of the exact positions of rest.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the form of execution thereof shown above, but substantial modifications may be made, without departing from its scope. For instance the control arrangement of the three phases contained in the record-changing might not contain a cam disc or corresponding cam means, but the same advantage may be obtained by any control arrangements usable for the purpose. In the form of execution according to Figs. 1-6 it is for instance possible by arranging more than two grooves of the type 45, 41 to cause more than two records, for instance three records, to be reproduced in rapid succession after each other, with a pause following the playing of the third record.

What is claimed:

1. In a phonograph, a disc rotatable through a cycle to effect an automatic record change, a rotating member for driving said disc, said disc having a recess in which said member is freely turnable between cycles, means actuated by the completion of a record for giving said disc a rotational impulse to bring the disc into engagement with said member, said disc being formed with an additional recess in which said member is freely turnable during said cycle, means for giving said disc a rotational impulse to bring the disc into engagement with said'member when the latter is in said additional recess, and means for delaying the actuation of said last-mentioned means. I V

2. In a phonograph, a disc rotatable through a cycle to effect an automatic record change, a rotating member for driving said disc, said disc having a recess in which said member is freely turnable between cycles, means actuated by the completion of a-record for giving said disc a rotanegates is freely "turnable during saidcycle, an-element rotating member.

3. In a phonograph, a disc rotatable through a cycle to efiect an automatic-record change, a

rotating member for driving said disc, said disc having a recess in which said member is freely turnable between cycles, means actuated by the completion of a record for giving said disc a rotational impulse to bring the disc into engagement'with said member, said disc being formed- With an additional recess in which said member is freely tuniable durin said cycle, an-ele ment resiliently displaced by said disc as said additional recess approaches said rotating member, a slotted cam carried by said element, a fixed pin normally positioned in the slot, means for turning said cam when said element is displaced so that said slot is out of alignment with said pin,

said pin contacting the unslotted portion of the cam to retain said element in displaced position,

means for relatively slowly turning said cam to return said slot into alignment with said pin,

' resilient means for returning said element to its initial position when said slot becomes aligned with said pin, and means on saiddisc located in -a path-of travel of said element during its return for giving the disc a rotational impulse to bring said additional recess past said rotating member.

4. In a phonograph, a disc rotatable through I a cycle to effect an automatic record change,

a rotating member for driving said disc, said disc having a recess in which said member is freely turnable between cycles, means actuated by the ""compietion'of a record for giving said disc a r- "said pin contacting the unslotted portion of the cam to retain said element in displaced position, an 'e'scapement mechanism for relatively slowly turning said-cam to return said slot into alignment with said pin, resilient means for returning said element to its initial position when said slot becomes aligned with said pin, and a projection on said disc located in a path of travel of said element during its return for giving the disc a rotational impulse to bring said additional recess pastsaid rotating member. a

5. In a phonograph, a disc rotatable through -cycle to effect an automatic record change, a

rotating member for drivin said disc, said disc having a recess in which said member is freely turnable between cycles, means actuated by the completion of a record for giving said disc 2, rotational impulse to bring the disc into engagement with said member, said disc being formed With an additional recess in which said member is freely turnable during said cycle, an element displaced by said disc as said additional recess approaches said rotating member, resilient means tending to return said element to its initial position, a cam carried by said element and formed 1'4 with two peripherally spaced slots, a pinnormally positioned in one of said slots, means {or-turning said cam when said element is displaced to turn said one slot is out of alignment with said pin, means for'selectively' limitin the turning of said cam so that the other of said slots is brought into alignment with said pin, whereby said element is immediately returned by said resilient'means to its initial position or so that both slots are out of alignment withsaid pin,

said pin contacting the unslotted portion ofthe cam to retain said element in its displaced-position, means for relatively slowly turning said cam when both slots are out of alignment to return said one slot into alignment with said pin whereby said element is then returned to its initial position by said resilient means, and means on said disc located in a path of travel of said element during its return to give the disc a rotational impulse to bring said additional recess past said rotating member.

6. In a phonograph, a disc rotatable through a cycle to effect an automatic record change,- a rotating member for driving said'disc, said disc having a recess in which said member is freely turnable between cycles, means actuated by the completion of a record for giving said disc a ro tational impulse to bring the disc intoeng'ag'ement with said member, said disc being formed with an additional recess in which said member is freely turnable during said cycle, an element displaced by said disc as said additional recess approaches said rotating member, resilient means tending to return saidelement to its initial position, a rotatable shaft having a threaded end, means on said element brought into engagement with the thread when the element is displaced fo-r retaining the element in displaced position, means to rotate said shaft to advance the lastmentionedmeans to the end of said thread to release said element, and means on said'disc'located in-a path of travel of said element following its release-for giving the disc a rotational impulse to bring said'additional recess past said r rotating member.

7. In a phonograph, a disc rotatable through a cycle to effect an automatic record change, a rotating-member for driving said disc, said disc having a recess in which said member is freely turnable between cycles, means actuated by the completion of a record for giving said disc a rotational impulse to bring the disc into engagement with said member, said disc being formed with an additional recess in which said member is freely turnable during said cycle, an element displaced by said disc as said additional recess approaches said rotating member, resilient means tending to returnsa id element to its initial position, a rotatable shaft having a threaded end, means on said element brought into engagement with the thread when the element is displaced for retaining the element in displaced position, means responsive to engagement of the means on said element with said threaded end for imparting rotary movement to said shaft to advance the means on said element to the end of said thread to release said element, and means on said disc located in a path of travel of saidelement following its release for giving the disc a rotational impulse to bring said additional recess past said rotating member.

8. In a phonograph, a disc rotatable through a cycle to effect an automatic record change, a rotating member for-driving said disc, said di'sc having a recess in which said member is treely '15 turnable between cycles, means actuated by the completion of a record for giving said disc a rotational impulse to bring the disc into engagement with said member, said disc being formed with an additional recess in which said member is freely turnable during said cycle, an element displaced by said disc as said additional recess approaches said rotating member, resilient means tending to return said element to its initial position, a rotatable shaft having a threaded end, a gear on said rotatable member, a gear meshable therewith mounted on said shaft, a sprin normally maintaining said gears out of mesh, means on said element brought into engagement with the thread on said shaft when the element is displaced for retaining the element in displaced" position, means responsive to engagement of the i a cycle to effect an automatic record change, a

rotating member for driving said disc, said disc having a recess in which said member is freely turnable between cycles, means actuated by the completion of a record for giving said disc a rotational impulse to bring the disc into engagement with said member, said disc being formed with an additional recess in which said member is freely turnable during said cycle, a rotatable shaft having a threaded end, an element displaced by said disc as said additional recess approaches said rotating member, resilient means tending to return said element to its initial position, manually adjustable means for varying the amplitude of the displacement of said element, means on said element brought into engagement with the thread on said shaft when the element is displaced for retaining the element in displaced position, means to rotate the shaft to advance the means on said element to the end of said thread to release said element, and means on said disc located in a path of travel of said element following its release for giving the disc a rotational impulse to bring said additional recess past said rotating member.

10. In a phonograph, a disc rotatable through a cycle to effect an automatic record change, a rotating member for driving said disc, said disc having a recess in which said member is freely turnable between cycles, means actuated by'the completion of a record for giving said disc a rtational impulse to bring the disc into engagementwith said member, said disc being formed with an additional recess in which said member is freely turnable during said cycle, an element displaced by said disc as said additional recess approaches said rotating member, resilient means tending to return said element to its initial position, a rotatable shaft having a threaded end, means on said element engageable with the thread on said shaft when the element is displaced for retaining the element in displaced position, means to rotate said shaft to advance the lastmentioned means to the end of said thread to release said element, means adjustable to prevent the engagement of the means on said element with said thread for immediately releasing said element and means on said disc located in a path of travel of said element following its release for giving the disc a rotational impulse to bring said additional recess past said rotating member.

11. In a phonograph, a disc rotatable through a cycle to efiect an automatic record change, a rotating member for driving said disc, said disc having a recess in which said member is freely turnable between cycles, means actuated by the completion of a record for giving said disc a rotational impulse to bring the disc into engagement with said member, said disc being formed with an additional recess in which said member is freely turnable during said cycle, an element displaced by said disc as said additional recess approaches said rotating member, resilient means tending to return said element to its initial position, a rotatable shaft having a threaded end, means on said element engageable with the thread on said shaft when the element is displaced for retaining the element in displaced position, means to rotate-said shaft to advance the last-mentioned means to the end of said thread to release said element, a toothed member rotatable into one position to prevent the engagement of the means on said element with said thread for immediately releasing said element, said toothed member being rotatable into another position permitting such engagement, means to rotate said toothed member from either of said positions to the other, once for every revolution of said disc, and means on said disc located in a path of travel of said element following its release for giving the disc a rotational impulse to bring said additional recess past said I rotating member.

12. In a phonograph, a disc rotatable through a cycle to effect an automatic record change, a rotating member for driving said disc, said disc having a recess in which said member is freely turnable between cycles, means actuated by the completion of a record for giving said disc a rotational impulse to bring the disc into engagement 'with said member, said disc being formed with an additional recess in which said member is freely turnable during said cycle, an element displaced by said disc as said additional recess approaches said rotating member, resilient means tending to return said element to its initial position, a rotatable shaft having a threaded end, means on said element engageable with the thread on said shaft when the element is displaced for retaining the element in displaced position, means to rotate said shaft to advance the last-mentioned means to the end of said thread to release said element, a toothed member rotatable into one position to prevent the engagement of the means on said element with said thread for immediately releasing said element, said toothed member being rotatable into another pcsition permitting such engagement, and means on said disc located in a path of travel of said element following its release for giving the disc a rotational impulse to bring said additional recess past said rotating member, the teeth on said member being located in a path of travel of said element for engagement of a tooth by said element during its release for turning the toothed member from either of said positions to the other.

13. In a phonograph, a disc rotatable through a cycle to efiect an automatic record change, a rotatin member for driving said disc, said disc having a recess in which said member is freely turnable between cycles, means actuated by the 7 completion of a record for giving said disc a rotational impulse to bring the disc into engagement with said member, said disc being formed with an additional recess in which said member is freely turnable during said cycle, an element displaced by said disc as said additional recess approaches said rotating member, resilient means tending to return said element to its initial position, a rotatable shaft having a threaded end, means on said element engageable with the thread on said shaft when the element is dis- .placed for retaining the element in displaced position, means to rotate said shaft to advance the last-mentioned means to the end of said thread to release said element, a toothed member rotatable into one position to prevent the engagement of the means on said element with said thread for immediately releasing said element, said toothed member being rotatable into another position permitting such engagement; means on said disc located in a path of travel of said element following its release for giving the disc a rotational impulse to bring said additional recess REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,488,185 Yeager et a1 Mar. 25, 1924 1,812,454 Stockton June 30, 1931 1,813,472 Tillman July 7, 1931 2,313,193 Delchef Mar. 9, 1943 1,866,405 Garcia July 5, 1943 

